American car giant Ford are developing an advanced lighting technology for their new models which will enable drivers to see potential hazards more easily at night.

The Camera-Based Advanced Front Lighting System will widen beams at junction and roundabouts after interpreting road signs in the approach, whilst a GPS-enabled system will use a forward-facing camera to recognise roadways travelled previously and direct the lighting to illuminate bends in the road.

Spot lighting will be utilised to detect pedestrians, cyclists and large animals that may be in the vehicle's path. Infra-red technology can detect up to eight potential hazards, and highlight the two which pose the highest danger via the directional headlights and on-screen display.

Ken Washington, the vice president at Ford Research and Advanced Engineering commented: "Many people who drive at night have had to quickly react to someone or something suddenly appearing in the road as if from nowhere. Ford's Camera-Based Advanced Front Lighting System and Spot Lighting help ensure the driver is quickly alerted to people or animals that could present a danger."

Camera-Based Advanced Front Lighting System will build upon Ford's pre-existing Adaptive Front Lighting System and Traffic Sign Recognition, to provide drivers with improved visibility at roundabouts, and stop or give way signs.

The Camera-Based Advanced Front Lighting System is expected to be available to customers in the near term, whilst the spot lighting is currently in its pre-development phrase.